2013 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 11
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (5-5; 5-2 MEAC)
VS.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY “BEARS” (4-7; 4-3 MEAC)
SAT., NOV. 23, 2013 (2:00 P.M.)
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL.
Live Video Streaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVmkfhfL9L4
Live Stats: http://www.dsuhornets.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?&&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=12900
THE GAME
Delaware State closes out the 2013 season against long-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Morgan State. The Hornets have won four of their last five games to improve to 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the MEAC. DSU is coming off a 29-21 come-from-behind win over Florida A&M last Saturday. The Hornets scored 26 unanswered points after trailing 21-3 in the second quarter. The Rattlers scored 14 points off two Delaware State turnovers to help build their lead. The Hornets began their comeback when Dae-Hon Cheung scored a touchdown on a nine-yard run in the second quarter. DSU trailed 21-10 at the break. The Hornets pulled to within 21-16 when Cory Murphy connected with Bo Ceravolo on a nine-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Delaware State completed the comeback when Murphy hit Milton Williams III for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter to lead 22-21. On Florida A&M's next possession, DSU defensive back Cory Scott scooped up a Rattler fumble and ran 55 yards to the endzone to give the Hornets a 29-21 lead. Delaware State outscored Florida A&M 19-0 in the second half. The win gave DSU a 3-1 record in MEAC road games this season.
Morgan State (4-7; 4-3) is trying rebound from a 38-3 loss to South Carolina State in its last outing on Nov. 14. The Bears fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and never recovered. MSU had won its previous two games. The Bears are currently tied for fourth place in the MEAC with a 4-3 in league games. Morgan State enters the contest as one of the MEAC's better rushing teams. The Bears are fourth in the league in rushing at 173.5 yards per game.
THE SERIES
This is the 57th meeting between the Hornets and Bears. It is Delaware State's second oldest rivalry (69 games vs. Howard). Delaware State won the last meeting, although Morgan State holds a 32-24 lead in the series. The last time the teams met, the Hornets posted a 28-23 victory over the Bears in Baltimore, Md., in 2012. DSU quarterback Nick Elko completed 33-of-42 passes for a career-high 398 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hornets in last year's meeting. The last time the teams played at Delaware State, Morgan State won 12-0 in a driving rainstorm in 2011. Tracey Martin rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bears.
HORNETS STILL ALIVE IN MEAC RACE
DSU is currently third in the MEAC standings. Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State lead the league with 6-1 records. A Delaware State win over Morgan State and loses by Bethune-Cookman (vs. Florida A&M) and South Carolina State (at Norfolk State) this weekend would create a three-way tie atop the conference standings at seasons end. The Hornets lost to Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 5 (21-7), but did not face South Carolina State this season.
Defending champ Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State are tied for first at 5-1, although Bethune-Cookman holds the tie-breaker by virtue of its win over SC State this season.
Delaware State, a charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), is in its 43th season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 128-146-1 in MEAC contests. Delaware State has won or shared six MEAC championships. The Hornets claimed outright MEAC titles in 1985, 1989 and 2007, while sharing the crown in 1987, 1988 and 1991. Delaware State was tied for third place in the MEAC with a 5-3 mark in 2012.
